“Everyone should be abstinent . . . but it’s not realistic at all,” the 18-year-old told Fox’s Greta Van Susteren, adding that having sex as a teenager had become “more and more accepted now” among people her age.

The new mother, who gave birth to Gov. Palin’s first grandchild late last year, said her decision to go forward with an unplanned pregnancy was entirely her own.

“It was my choice to have the baby,” she said, in an interview that aired Monday night. “It doesn’t matter what my mom’s views are on it. It was my decision and I wish people would realize that too.”

Bristol Palin said she would eventually like marry Levi Johnston, her newborn son’s father. But they’ve “been focusing though on just getting through school and getting an education and stuff – getting a career going,” Palin said.

Palin said she was “excited to be a mom” and described her 2-month-old son Tripp as “awesome” and “very, very, very cute,” but said that other teenagers should not follow in her footsteps.

“I think everyone should just wait 10 years,” Palin said. Being a teenage mother “is not glamorous at all . . . your whole priorities change after having a baby.”

soundoff(285 Responses)

Sounds much more intelligent than her mother. Whole family needs an eduacation though. Never heard the first dude speak. He must be pretty stupid as well.

February 17, 2009 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

James

I don’t understand why many of you people think that it is the public schools responsibility to teach your kids about sex. It is your responsibility to teach your kids. And don’t be so naive to believe that teenagers are getting pregnant because they are not informed…please.

February 17, 2009 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

Scott the Independent

You wait till you mother gets wind of this – she only said it because she knows her mother doesn't read the press or listen to the news. Just wait till the gossip gets to her office.

February 17, 2009 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |

Jim

If her mother was a liberal she probably would have had an abortion.

February 17, 2009 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

Normal?

Sarah palin is a typical Repub who has trouble with science and reality, and who should have left her family out of politics.

February 17, 2009 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

Mike D. in San Diego

Yay Bristol! The progressive minds in this country have been screaming this for years while the right slammed single mothers as amoral trash ...until one of them turned out to be their own. Maybe the right will wake up and realize that teenagers are going to have sex and need to be taught about birth control. It prevents unwanted pregnancies and prevents deadly STDs...that's as pro-life as you can get.

February 17, 2009 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |

Truth Hurts

Abstinence works when you use it. It is your choice to use it or not. Too say it don't work is crazy. It don't work when you make the decision to have sex. What needs to be said is preventing pregnancy with condoms and other forms of birth controls and protecting yourself from diseases and infections!! In a perfect world all children and teenagers should practice abstinence but we all know about reality!! We can teach abstinence all day long but we alson need teachings of protecting yourself as well!! This is something the Conservatives struggle with.

February 17, 2009 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

Lydia Hopkins

I know Sarah Palin has a book to sell.. and what great timing Gov. Palin.. continue to keep your kids in the spotlight so that you can continue to cry UNFAIR treatment of my FAMILY in the MEDIA!

Congratulations GRANDMA.. you are back in the MEDIA!

PLEASE GO AWAY!!

February 17, 2009 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

Steven

It is sad just sad. When she was on the trail trying to become the VP she and her family where so holy and it was a slip up that her child had made. Well this is a example of why she should never run for a offick. SHE CAN NOT CONTROL WHAT IS HAPPING INSIDE HER OWN HOME. Wake up America PLEASE keep this joker alway from any office greater than what she has. Keep her in ALASKA.